A DAY'S SPORT ON GRINDSTONE ISLAND. 25 



me. He apparently came to the conclusion that they were 

 not of his own kind, for after looking around for a moment 

 he started away, passing almost directly over my box, into 

 which he nearly fell when I shot him. Yellowlegs {Totanus 

 melanoleucus) were very abundant, and I was amused to see 

 my friend kill five young birds of that species, one after 

 another, which allowed him to walk within shot of them. 



The marsh in which I had placed my " box " extended in 

 an unbroken line for nearly twelve miles, and is sheltered on 

 either side by sand-hills that rise from twenty to fifty feet in 

 height. Here the birds love to feed, especially on a stormy 

 day, as they are protected from the wind by the sand-hills, 

 and find plenty of food among the rich grass, and in the 

 large, shallow pools of brackish water. 



Sandpipers in large flocks were constantly passing and 

 repassing ; in fact, I found the shooting here to have all the 

 pleasure of deep-sea fishing, in the uncertainty of what would 

 next be taken. 



I had just shot a fine specimen of the great Blue Heron 

 {Ardeci herodias), when a flock of Teal passed on one side of 

 me, while a flock of about twenty Plover were passing on 



